Z has always been the designation used for BMW roadsters. However BMW Technik, the experimental and concepts division of BMW, used Z names for alot of their concept cars. There have been quite a few of them, so I thought I’d list them all, to see how the Z name has progressed over time. Some of these concepts took a few years to be revealed after completion, and looking at the numbers used, it seems obvious that there’s still quite a few internal Z concepts never revealed to the public.

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1985 BMW Z1 Prototype

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1988-1991 BMW Z1

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1991 BMW Z1 Coupe Prototype

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1991 BMW E1 Concept (Z11)

Or just the E1, pretty sure Z11 is just the codename?

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1993 BMW Z13 Concept

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1993 BMW E1 Concept (Z15)

As before.

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1995-1999 BMW Z3

Just ignore the fact that the M versions shown never got the facelift, I needed a good image of both bodystyles.

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1999-2002 BMW Z4

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1995 BMW Z18 Concept

But debuted in 2000.

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1995 BMW Z21 Just 4/2 Concept

AKA just the “Just 4/2"

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1997 BMW C1 Concept (Z14)

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1997 BMW Z07 Concept

Previewed the 2000 BMW Z8

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1999 BMW Z9 Gran Turismo Concept

Previewed the 2003 BMW 6-Series coupe.

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1999 BMW Z22 Concept

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2000 BMW Z9 cabrio Concept

Previewed the 2003 BMW 6-Series convertible.

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2000-2003 BMW Z8

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2001 BMW Z29 Prototype

But debuted in 2006. I love how un-BMW this looks, like they rebadged a kit car.

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2002-2005 BMW Z4

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2005-2008 BMW Z4

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2009-2012 BMW Z4

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2013-2016 BMW Z4

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2017 BMW Concept Z4

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2018- BMW Z4

Why does it look 90% the same as the concept, but somehow look so much worse in comparison? That and the new 8 Series.